The Raider's Companion
Learn to Raid. Complement your Skills. Build your Legacy.
Are you ready to take your MMORPG experience to the next level? Are you interested in working with a team to slay gargantuan beasts? If you are, it is time to move into raiding and The Raider’s Companion is here to help. Leverage Ferrel’s years of experience as a competitive raider and tactician to sharpen your skills or learn to raid.
The Raider’s Companion presents both a “how to raid” guide and a series of “best practices” to enhance a player's effectiveness. If you’ve never joined a raid or have been doing so for years you’ll find useful information in The Raider’s Companion that will improve your abilities, change how you look at encounters, and make you a more well-rounded player on your team.
The Raider’s Companion ...
- Offers a comprehensive explanation of both the basics and the finer points of raiding for new raiders
- Includes a proven list of raiding best practices that will strengthen even the most seasoned veteran's skills
- Instructs players in the discipline of developing successful strategies and tactics to take on new encounters
- Trains players in the art of getting the most out of their organization's loot system
- Coaches players in creating positive relations with others to successfully function within a team
- Prepares aspiring raid leaders for the responsibilities they will take on
- Features a raiding case study that walks the reader through a new encounter from first engagement to final victory
- Written by Adam "Ferrel" Trzonkowski and illustrated by Amanda "Holydust" Martin
Reviews
Even though I consider myself somewhat of a “seasoned raider,” (though not nearly as much as the author), I found each section interesting and informative, and the book as a whole an excellent investment. I encourage all of you to pick up a copy to both support your own interests (if raiding is one of them) and art as a whole [...] -Stubborn (Sheep the Diamond)
If you’ve never taken the time to sit down and actually think about raiding, or if you’re perhaps just getting started, then this book will have a lot of great information for you. If you have done any length of raiding in the past but want to brush up on some terminology then this book may also capture your fancy. -Stargrace (MMOQuests)
You are spot on in your analysis, reminding me of why I raid. The breakdown of the personalities of raiders is superb, and it helped remind me that at the end of the day a good raider takes the time to understand WHO the people behind the characters are that they play with, not just what they can do (or can’t do) in game. -Maxivik
Where to Buy
Paperback
The standard paperback edition of The Raider's Companion is available exclusively through Amazon.com.
ISBN: 978-1-938-064-00-5 MSRP: U.S. $11.99
Kindle eBook
The Kindle edition of The Raider's Companion eBook is available through Amazon.com.
ISBN: 978-1-938064-02-9 MSRP: U.S. $9.59
ePub
The Raider's Companion ePub is available through DriveThru RPG.
ISBN: 978-1-938064-02-9 MSRP: U.S. $9.59
Hardback
The hardback edition of The Raider's Companion is not available through retail channels.
Copies may only be purchased from Epic Slant Press at shows and conventions.
ISBN: 978-1-938064-01-2 MSRP: U.S. $24.99
Samples
Table of Contents
Curious about what is covered in The Raider's Companion? Why not take a look at the table of contents to see all of the topics that Ferrel addressed! Discover what you can learn in The Raider's Companion.
Chapter Three
In the Chapter Three sample you'll learn how to change your plan, make suggestions, and learn some solid tips about how to read a raid encounter. Learn to raid with the chapter three sample!
FAQ
I've been raiding for years, why should I buy The Raider's Companion?
Any experienced raider might be somewhat dubious about purchasing a book about raiding. Even Ferrel would have thought the notion unthinkable a few years ago. The Raider’s Companion isn’t just a book that teaches a person how to raid. It is a book about a perspective. A perspective that Ferrel has used year in year out in different guilds and in different positions to create repeated success. We all have room to grow in our raiding careers and sometimes all we need is a fresh outlook to take the next step forwards. Give Ferrel and The Raider’s Companion a chance to share that new perspective with you.
Is The Raider's Companion for a specific MMORPG?
The Raider's Companion is influenced by the set of MMORPGs that Ferrel has played but is not specific to any of them. The practices and methodologies found within the book are applicable to any game where you must work together with others to overcome a challenge. Regardless of whether you’re raiding in World of Warcraft or Rift you’re going to learn skills applicable in any raiding situation.
Will The Raider's Companion teach me strategies to beat specific bosses?
No specific, fully encompassing boss strategies are outlined in The Raider's Companion. There are general examples drawn from popular MMORPGs like EverQuest II, World of Warcraft, and Rift to help illustrate how to develop tactics. Ferrel aims to teach you to fish instead of just feeding you once.
Will The Raider's Companion teach me to play my class better?
In an effort to remain relevant for all games The Raider's Companion does not teach how to become the best at a specific class. There are simply too many games and classes to do so. Instead the book presents specific roles that must be filled to succeed and how to best accomplish the tasks associated with those roles.
What qualifies Ferrel to teach others how to raid?
It is easy to claim that having been a raider for a long time qualifies you as an expert. The unfortunate truth is that sometimes that isn't the case. Adam "Ferrel" Trzonkowski has not only been a raider "for a long time" but has been consistently successful at it at multiple levels of play. In EverQuest he raided with a competitive "server first" guild. In EverQuest II he not only raided with but also led a competitive "server first" guild. In the time since then Ferrel has continued to lead and raid with his guild in various MMORPGs, the most recent being Rift, where his guild clears current tier raid content.
